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DNC 2012 Watch: How much union labor will be bussed in to NC?

With Charlotte, North Carolina being picked by the DNCC as the host city for the 2012 Democrat National Convention, pro-Democrat union “leaders” and supporters have been grumbling due to the fact that North Carolina is the least unionized state in the country – which, in their eyes means no political paybacks for the m/billions unions have given to local, state, and national Democrats over several decades. As always, the fine print must be read and understood. We’ll get to that in a minute. But first, here’s the Charlotte Observer’s write-up on the fears expressed by some local private-sector leaders regarding the possibility that union labor will be brought into the city at the expense of local temporary workers:

The selection of Charlotte for the 2012 Democratic National Convention will bring hundreds of temporary jobs to the nation’s least unionized state, raising questions about organized labor’s role in the event.

Some national unions are criticizing the party, which has close labor ties, for its choice. But locally, labor leaders are pleased that the convention will bring jobs and spotlight their efforts.

Last week, Rick Sloan of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers called Charlotte’s selection a “calculated affront.” In response, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx has said the labor movement, a key historical ally of the Democrats, is not forgotten and may be pleasantly surprised by what is proposed.

“It’s not a secret that the DNC has a strong labor component to how they carry these conventions out,” Foxx told the Observer. “How that looks going forward will be the product of a lot of work to develop a plan.”

And this has some local business leaders worried.

They wonder whether outside union employees will be brought in for jobs such as working on the arena, which needs seats removed and raised platforms built. They wonder whether convention workers may lose overtime opportunities.

Not only that, but there are concerns that pro-union forces will use the opportunity the DNC 2012 presents to actively court local workers in an attempt to push to make this state more unionized:

They fear unions will aggressively court new members.

“People are thinking that we may be low-hanging fruit,” said Kenny Colbert, president of The Employers Association, a human resources consulting group. “There are some companies that are very susceptible around here.”

Colbert was also quoted on local news station WSOC-TV as being confident that Democrats will bring in lots of union labor to the “Queen City”:

Kenny Colbert, president of The Employers Association, said locals may end up watching from the sidelines as the DNC brings in workers from other states for the convention.

“They will bring the union members with them for this convention,” he said. “It’s going to be an issue.”

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx promised any labor issues will be worked out.

“I think you’ll see how the labor issues get dealt with in that agreement when the time comes,” Foxx said.

Charlotte’s bid proposal says the city will “endeavor to use union labor to the greatest extent feasible.”

But neither Foxx nor the proposal gives specifics.

Unions may also lobby the state to change its rules so city and county employees can bargain collectively. Unions could come to town before the event to organize unions at hotels, for example, even if they’re only temporary.

[…]
“This would be a prime time for unions to make their promises. It’s natural that while they’re here they would try to drum up some business,” he said.

You better believe they will. Not only do President Obama and his party want this state to go blue again come the 2012 presidential election, but it would be a prime feather in their collective cap if they could stir up the masses here with talk of “unionizing” against “the man.” Leave no stone unturned, no state without unions, etc.

As to what the DNC contract with Charlotte stipulates, read on (via Labor Union Report):

City officials told News 14 Carolina that they spent about three months adjusting the contract details to match exactly what the DNC wanted and what Charlotte had to offer.

Among the obligations, the host committee is required in writing to raise more than $36.5 million in private funds for the convention. The committee must also recruit at least 500 volunteers leading up to the convention and at least 7,000 volunteers during the convention itself including up to 200 drivers.

The host committee must also establish a labor agreement within the next two months and organizers to hire union labor for tasks related to providing, services goods and materials.

Now, if you’re starting to wonder about the kind of contract Charlotte’s Host Committee signed, there are actually three contracts (one, two and three). However, because they’ve got about as many costly demands (including a teleprompter control room) as the Super Bowl has advertisements, you may want to print the contracts out for yourself and read them during those ads on TV this Sunday. For now, though, let’s just address the union stuff, shall we?

17.1. Use of union labor. To the extent permitted by law, to the extent, if any, such labor is available in the region, and except as otherwise expressly agreed by the DNCC, all services, goods, equipment, supplies and materials to be provided or procured by the Host Committee hereunder shall be performed or supplied by firms covered by current union collective bargaining agreements with the unions which have jurisdiction for the work or services to be performed.

17.2. Labor agreement. The Host Committee agrees that it will, within sixty (60) days of the date of this Agreement, conclude and execute with unions of potential jurisdiction in the Charlotte metropolitan area, an agreement obligating the Host Committee to utilize firms employing or contracting with members of those unions to the maximum extent feasible and obligating the unions to refrain from supporting, participating in or sanctioning any strike, sympathy strike, walkout, work stoppage or other labor action that would interfere with or delay work necessary to put on the Convention, or engage in handbilling or picketing (including, but not limited to, informational picketing) at the Convention Facilities.

Translation?Wide open. Essentially, the DNCC wants union labor to work the convention and, as well, for Charlotte to use already unionized firms that already have contracts with unions. Now, since North Carolina is the least unionized state in the nation, there may be slim pickins’ insofar as finding a lot of unionized companies.

Unions to have their cake and eat it too?

What the contract does not address specifically—which leaves the door wide open—is this: If there are not enough unionized companies (with enough union laborers) to fulfill the work, can the unions send in union members from other states and take the work? Short answer: It certainly appears that way.

Additionally, the DNCC wants the Host Committee to sign (within sixty days) what appears to be “labor peace agreements” with unions that have “potential jurisdiction” in the Charlotte Metro area. This may mean that the Host Committee has taken it upon itself to invite unions and/or unionized companies in from out of state to agree sign union contracts. That way the unions can use unionized companies as “hiring halls” for the unions recruit from the local Charlotte area.

If that’s the case, there may be a bunch of “union” companies moving into Charlotte from elsewhere around the country to lease space and open up offices to process people and dues through. This way, those sham “union companies” can hire locally—so long as the locals don’t mind signing up with a union and paying the dues and fees for the short time they get to have the work. The unions get their money, the locals get some work and everybody’s happy.

Interesting, isn’t it? It really shouldn’t be so complicated. The host city and the surrounding areas should naturally benefit the most from the employment opportunities associated with a national political convention coming to their city. But because Democrats are so beholden to “organized labor”, stipulations have to be put in the convention contracts to make sure that their out-of-state political donors are “paid back” – so to speak, whether that includes bringing in union labor from other states and/or having companies temporarily set up house in the state so as to lure workers into “temporarily” becoming union members -which benefits national organized labor unions. Backstratching and butt-kissing gone wild.

The four-day Democratic National Convention in August is expected to pump $160 million directly into the regional economy.

The economic shot-in-the-arm, whatever the total actually ends up being, will be a welcome boost. But we’re beginning to question whether the short-term benefit is worth the long-term expenses.

Denver, and Colorado, could be left holding the bag for years to come.

Even before the Democrats awarded their national convention to Denver, Mayor John Hickenlooper had to promise a union-run hotel, the city’s first. He delivered.

Then, with the memory of picket lines set up by Boston police during the 2004 DNC convention hanging quietly over negotiations, Denver cops received at least a 14 percent salary increase for the next three years. The contract nearly tripled the percentage raise handed out in the previous three-year contract.

And last spring, after Gov. Bill Ritter wisely vetoed a bill making it easier to form labor unions in Colorado, the AFL-CIO threatened to ask national Democrats to find a new city for the convention if the state didn’t adopt a pro-labor measure.

Teamster president James Hoffa Jr. confronted Ritter, saying if he and Hickenlooper didn’t work out some key issues, the convention could be plagued with protests and picket lines.

“It could blow up,” Hoffa told Ritter.

Months later, right on cue, Ritter delivered his Friday afternoon executive order, granting state workers unnecessary collective bargaining rights that will drive up the cost of state government.

Unions have been thriving only in the public sector, and Ritter’s order ensured that they will continue to flourish there — at least until there’s a new governor to overturn the order.

And now, parking lot workers at Denver International Airport are the latest to hold the city hostage as they negotiate a new contract.

The Service Employees International Union’s chapter director for parking employees, Dennis DeMaio, said the union will strike during the DNC if it needs to. The union is concerned about which company may get the contract to manage parking at DIA.

Never is the duplicity of the Democrat mantra of “caring” so transparent as it is when it comes to union workers and contract negotiations. Union fat cats don’t care about the worker – the big bosses care about increasing the percentage of their slices of the pie while maintaining (or growing) their high positions of influence. And the workers? They just “want theirs” – no matter who foots the bill. Who cares about the many non-union folks who want jobs but do not want to be a part of any union, anyway? Certainly not the party and not the liberal labor orgs, both of who falsely claim to be so passionately on the side of the “middle class.” It’s all about political payback and power at the expense of the evil private sector, all the while fostering a “gimme mine” mentality amongst rank and file union members.

If it does, it’ll be short-term. Look, even here in NJ people are finally waking up to the damage that mentality and the policies it spawns will occur, and y’all down there in NC have a better record of keeping a clear head on matters like that than we do. We had to hit rock bottom first, I don’t think that’ll be the case for you, not with us, and NY, CA, and IL as examples to avoid.

Looking carefully at 17.2 of the contract, it looks like the arrangement with the unions is that they won’t be able to disrupt the DNC by striking in any way or for any reason. Does that mean that the DNC is more important than the poor workers? Interesting…

Of course it is, Roeland, as are the union bosses and certain industrial giants (GE, GM come to mind immediately) and, of course, anyone closely allied with the elitist administration who can show they are a part of the arrogancia, intelligencia or elites.